Civil Engineers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 49,010 Civil Engineers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
49,010
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
49.01
workers
Location Quotient
7.62
vs national avg
Average Salary
$115K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 7.62 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Civil Engineers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
49,010
National: 327,930
14.9% of national
Jobs per 1,000
49.01
National: 6.43
+662.2%
Average Salary
$115K
National: $97K
+18.0%

Top States by Civil Engineers Employment

#1
49,010
49,010
employed
#2
29,660
29,660
employed
#3
18,130
18,130
employed
#4
16,450
16,450
employed
#5
13,530
13,530
employed
#6
13,260
13,260
employed
#7
12,130
12,130
employed
#8
12,100
12,100
employed
#9
11,380
11,380
employed
#10
11,050
11,050
employed

What Does a Civil Engineers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Civil Engineers in California is $115,100. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Civil Engineers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 49,010 Civil Engineers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Civil Engineers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Civil Engineers jobs (LQ: 7.62). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Civil Engineers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Civil Engineers in California is $115100/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Civil Engineers professionals?

The top state for Civil Engineers employment is California with 49,010 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Civil Engineers (SOC 172051) in California.

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